Tourism Attraction: Western Region targets top spot by 2020 - Minister

The Western Region has set next year (2020) as its target to take over the top spot of tourism in the country.

Currently, Central Region leads when it comes to tourists attractions, inviting thousands of domestic and foreign visitors into the region.

But, the Western Region intends to take over the leadership role following significant measures put in place to turn around the fortunes of existing tourism sites and developing potential ones in the region from 2019-2020.

The Western Regional Minister, Hon. Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah disclosed this on Sunday when he welcomed First Lady Mrs. Rebecca Akufo Addo and other dignitaries to the Region during the official launch and plaque unveiling of Bisa Aberwa Museum at Nkontompor, a suburb of Sekondi Takoradi Metropolis.

The Museum, is a multimillion dollar private initiative mooted by Kwaw Paintsil Ansah, a popular film maker in Ghana forty years ago and was completed this year.

The Regional Minister described Kwaw Ansah as an astute personality, influential figure, who used creative art to tell the Ghanaian and African stories.

"Those of us who have followed the works of Agya Ansah, can attest that he has sought to influence the mentality of our people through the creative arts."

The Minister said "For our history and values as Africans which must be sustained to cultivate the future generations, you will agree with me that Agya Ansah has proven resolute. His building and stuffing of the Bisa Aberwa Museum tells it all.

He explained that the Museum, which will become one of the tourism attractions in the Region provides the material evidence for Pan Africanism that has been championed over the years by Ghana and people from the Western Region such as Paa Grant, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the First President of the Republic and now Agya Ansah among others.

According to Hon. Darko-Mensah, the Museum, to say the least, was dedicated to preserving the history of the black race, promoting African values and celebrating Pan African heroes and heroines.

Consequently, he acknowledged the role of the current government in promoting such private initiatives to boost the economy.

"Our Government believes, supports and promotes private enterprises, this is manifested in programmes such as the One District, One Factory, Planting for Food and Jobs, Planting for Export and Rural Development"

He praised the founder of the Museum for blazing the trail in putting up the magnificent three storey structure with the best of art collection.

He appealed passionately to Kwaw Ansah and his board of directors to "Please Reserve a section to expose and celebrate the enduring economic story of western Region such as gold, Timber, Cocoa Bauxite) and now oil and Gas After all the story of the Slave-Trade was all about making Money albeit selfishly"

He noted that Kwaw Ansah’s private initiative to preserve and make available to us, the collection of tangible objects of culture and images of personalities who have brought Africa this far, must be emulated on all fronts.

His output today he said obviously does not only add to the numerous tourist sites available in the Western Region in terms of beach resorts, historical forts and castles, vast flora and fauna, the famous Nzulezu (a community on silts) as well as a welcoming and hospitable people, but also presents the fact that Ghana’s welfare truly lies in the hands of the private sector.

"We at the WRCC have set an ultra modern investment centre to stream investor experience in the Western region. We have also commissioned two books", he emphasized

The Economic History Of Western Region And Discover The Western Region

"We are developing our strategic tourism roadmap to become the best tourism destination in Ghana; afterall the Western Region is only 25minute from Accra by Air. "The Western Region, Ghana’s Anchor" he concluded

The Paramount Chief of Essikado Traditional Area, Nana Kobinah Nketsia V who chaired the function encouraged Africans all over the world to unite.

Minister for Tourism Culture and Creative Arts Barbera Oteng-Gyasi who was enthused about the private initiative by Kwaw Ansah encouraged Ghanaians to emulate his shining example.

First Lady Mrs. Rebecca Akufo Addo who was the special guest of honour described the project as an amazing one.

She asked Ghanaians and lovers of tourism to patronize the Museum in order to breathe life into the individual initiative of the founder Kwaw Ansah.